LatiNext

Written by Esther Banegas Gatica

This play was selected as a Bay Area Playwrights Festival Semi-Finalist.

LatiNext tells the story of three talented women who walk into a show audition–a Colombian Venezuelan, an Afro-Latina, and a Spaniard. These ladies have nothing in common, except for the fact that they’ve all answered the call for the same role—a Latin Hispanic female lead. What, then, makes a Latina—nationality, appearance, or language? Are they looking for authenticity or stereotypes? What is the line between...

LatiNext tells the story of three talented women who walk into a show audition–a Colombian Venezuelan, an Afro-Latina, and a Spaniard. These ladies have nothing in common, except for the fact that they’ve all answered the call for the same role—a Latin Hispanic female lead. What, then, makes a Latina—nationality, appearance, or language? Are they looking for authenticity or stereotypes? What is the line between representation and caricature? LatiNext is a play that explores the intricacies of legitimate casting and Latinidad.

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LatiNext

Recommended by

  • Playwrights Foundation: LatiNext Written by Esther Banegas Gatica
    “

    The community of National Committee readers for the 47th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced LatiNext as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We found its clever subversion of stereotype and audience expectations to be compelling. Readers leaned in to both the premise and the humor of this script. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production.

    The community of National Committee readers for the 47th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced LatiNext as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We found its clever subversion of stereotype and audience expectations to be compelling. Readers leaned in to both the premise and the humor of this script. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production.

    ”

Character Information

Bilingual Latin Actors required
  • CHADLEY (CHAD) H.
    A male white-passing Latino casting director, mid-20s. Has a strong desire to insert his name in the pantheon of successful industry producers, one way or another.
    mid 20s- early 30s
    Latino,
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • VERONICA VALLADARES
    Female, late 20s, beautifully confident, think young Sofia Vergara, maybe like a pageant queen on steroids. She’s lived in the US since she was 15, always considered never White or Latina enough.
    late 20s- early 30s
    Latina -- Colombian,
    Latina or Latina/bi-racial
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • YANISEL RUIZ
    Female, late 30s, free spirit, Cuban-American– think Zoe Saldana, Afro-Latina, she migrated here when she was 19, so her accent is noticeable. A very loud and proud single Mom.
    late 30s- early 40s
    Latina or Afro-Latina,
    Latino -- Cuban
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • ANNA LUCIA ROBLEDO
    Female, early 20s, Gen-Z aesthetic and attitude - think Anya Taylor-Joy. She was born in Spain and is the most white-passing of the three actresses, but also the most versatile.
    late teens - early 20's
    Hispanic,
    Latino -- Spanish
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman

Development History

  • Reading, University of California - Riverside- New Works Festival, 2022